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CNN Live At Daybreak
In California, West Coast Ports Will Remain Shut Down
Aired September 30, 2002 - 05:54 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In California, all West Coast ports will remain shut down indefinitely. Shipping lines have locked out dock workers in their ongoing contract dispute. The lockout affects 29 ports from Seattle to San Diego and more than 10,000 longshoremen.
Eric Wilkinson of CNN affiliate KING in Seattle tells us that things threaten to get really ugly.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ERIC WILKINSON, KING CORRESPONDENT: Shortly after being locked out of their jobs for the second time in as many days, union longshoremen charged the gates here at the Port of Seattle. Contract negotiations now spiraling out of control.
(voice-over): Livid longshoremen crashed the gates at the Port of Seattle. Locked out of their jobs and then watching outsiders brought in by management take controls of cranes loading container ships.
CANDIS SCOTT, DOCK WORKER: They had no business being up in that (WORD DELETED) crane.
WILKINSON: Port police head off the angry union members, as workers inside run for cover, abandoning the cranes. The day started on a positive note. A 36 hour lockout by the Pacific Maritime Association, or PMA, ending this morning. Union workers back on the job, cargo ships coming and going once again. But by one o'clock, workers from Bellingham to San Diego were being told to go home and not return to work.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was, you know, shocked. I thought that it was a 36 hour cooling off period and, you know, again, you know, I have a family to support. I need to work.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here, here you go.
WILKINSON: A PMA spokesperson says this second lockout is in response to a work slowdown by union members. The latest move in a contract dispute that's lasted nearly five months. The cost to our nation's economy, nearly $1 billion a day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't need this to go down, especially when you've got a threat of war coming over your head.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It goes a lot more than just us. The Teamsters, truck drivers, all the jobs that are related to this port is about 25 percent of the work in Seattle.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let's all work!
WILKINSON: Meantime, with contract talks melting down and tensions high, state police now patrol the port, as another showdown looms tomorrow on the waterfront.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The battle is going to be tomorrow at the cruise ship when they're going to have non-union guys unloading the cruise ship. Take the battle tomorrow. Save the wounds until tomorrow morning.
WILKINSON (on camera): This latest lockout is expected to last at least through Monday. After that, it's anyone's guess.
At the Port of Seattle, Eric Wilkinson for CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired September 30, 2002 - 05:54 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In California, all West Coast ports will remain shut down indefinitely. Shipping lines have locked out dock workers in their ongoing contract dispute. The lockout affects 29 ports from Seattle to San Diego and more than 10,000 longshoremen.
Eric Wilkinson of CNN affiliate KING in Seattle tells us that things threaten to get really ugly.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ERIC WILKINSON, KING CORRESPONDENT: Shortly after being locked out of their jobs for the second time in as many days, union longshoremen charged the gates here at the Port of Seattle. Contract negotiations now spiraling out of control.
(voice-over): Livid longshoremen crashed the gates at the Port of Seattle. Locked out of their jobs and then watching outsiders brought in by management take controls of cranes loading container ships.
CANDIS SCOTT, DOCK WORKER: They had no business being up in that (WORD DELETED) crane.
WILKINSON: Port police head off the angry union members, as workers inside run for cover, abandoning the cranes. The day started on a positive note. A 36 hour lockout by the Pacific Maritime Association, or PMA, ending this morning. Union workers back on the job, cargo ships coming and going once again. But by one o'clock, workers from Bellingham to San Diego were being told to go home and not return to work.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was, you know, shocked. I thought that it was a 36 hour cooling off period and, you know, again, you know, I have a family to support. I need to work.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here, here you go.
WILKINSON: A PMA spokesperson says this second lockout is in response to a work slowdown by union members. The latest move in a contract dispute that's lasted nearly five months. The cost to our nation's economy, nearly $1 billion a day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't need this to go down, especially when you've got a threat of war coming over your head.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It goes a lot more than just us. The Teamsters, truck drivers, all the jobs that are related to this port is about 25 percent of the work in Seattle.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let's all work!
WILKINSON: Meantime, with contract talks melting down and tensions high, state police now patrol the port, as another showdown looms tomorrow on the waterfront.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The battle is going to be tomorrow at the cruise ship when they're going to have non-union guys unloading the cruise ship. Take the battle tomorrow. Save the wounds until tomorrow morning.
WILKINSON (on camera): This latest lockout is expected to last at least through Monday. After that, it's anyone's guess.
At the Port of Seattle, Eric Wilkinson for CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
